Fortitudo goes big with Barron

Fortitudo Bologna has added serious size to its roster with the signing on Wednesday of center Earl Barron, last with Miami of the NBA. Barron (213, 27) won the NBA title in 2006, the first of his three seasons with Miami, although he was not on the post-season roster. Last year, he posted career high averages of 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. Barron has spent part of one season in Europe before this, playing 17 games for Tuborg Izmir of the Turkish League in 2003-04, where he averaged 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. He spent the remainder of that season and part of the next in Hunstville of the NBA Development League before switching to Barako of the Phillipines League, were he averaged 26.9 points and 15.4 rebounds in 14 games. Barron started his career at University of Memphis, where he spent four seasons.